I want to roll my eyes and show Odyssey the finger, but I stare straight ahead at someone’s back. I do the next best thing. I visualize giving him the middle finger in my head.
Real mature, Princess.His laughter, echoed by the twins, rings through my mind. I didn’t realize that the twins could drop in on another mind-linked conversation.
“Royals, stand front and center!” Ean commands. The twins already stand in the front of the group. “That includes you, too, Princess.”
I poke my head around Van to look at Ean.
He raises a brow, questioning my hesitance. “I think you’ve been pretending to be a boy for so long that you forgot your real status.”
I guess I did. I step out from behind Van’s shadow and move to the front of the room. I take my place at the end of the two-person line next to Justin.
He grabs my arm and drags me between him and Jeremy.
What are you doing?I hiss via our mind link.
He grins and offers me a slight shrug.Just feels like you're too exposed standing at the end.
I roll my eyes at him and settle into my new position, facing front. It’s weird to be standing here, not staring at someone’s back.
Jeremy’s chuckle infiltrates my brain.
The Leads walk in with a group of men, some with familiar faces. Reggie is among them, dressed in guard training clothes, with a look of determination on his face. Emily and Sixes also stand among them.
What is happening right now? When did they all get here?
The new group forms two lines behind the Leads. Luke stands in the front, facing me. I just spoke to him a few days ago, and he said he was coming home in two weeks. Was he lying? I narrow my eyes at him, trying to figure him out. His lips twitch, trying to hide a smile. Emily and Sixes stare straight ahead, not giving me any indication why they are here. Is this the plan Chris had in mind?
My fingers twitch at my side, aching to grab onto something as I restrain myself from opening my mind link to find out why they are all here.
Trust the plan, Justin whispers in my mind as if someone else can hear him.
Chris moves to the center and announces that Owen’s mother passed and he will not be returning to the program. We hold a moment of silence for Owen and his mother. Then, he claps his hands together. “I know that many of you are wondering about the absence of Shadow. Quite a few rumors are circling around. I want to put an end to it right now. As most of you are aware, his permanent position among the guards has always been as commander and recruiting officer. Shadow’s position as trainer among the recruits was always an interim role. He planned to remain in the role until most of you graduated. However, some personal business arose, and Shadow needed to make a hasty departure. He sends his deep regret for not being here and telling you himself. He had been looking forward to seeing how you all perform during the finals.”
That’s an interesting spin. I wonder how many of the recruits buy it, especially those who were near enough to witness Reggie’s arrival. Then again, his face was covered by the hoodie, making it impossible to recognize him now. Do the Leads already have a suspect for the rat?
The energy in the room changes. I so badly wish I was standing in the back so I could study the recruits’ body language. I don’t waver in my stance but cast my eyes down. Staring straight at Luke is a bit unnerving.
“In anticipation of his departure, he prepared Darwin and Marty, who you already know. We also sent out one of the guards from last year’s group for further training outside of the program. Let me introduce your new commanding officer, Liam Fitzpatrick.”
My eyes jerk up and follow Liam as he steps out from the second line to join Ean. My brain takes a second to register Charlie’s presence here as well. How did I not notice them? I survey the group standing behind Luke. Actually, there are quite a few recruits who graduated from the previous year. When Liam reaches the space between Charlie and Ean, I move into position when addressing an officer. Liam gives a curt nod once in place, and we all return to normal formation.
“With your year-end finals coming up, we reached out and asked for some assistance. I know that the weekend is here, but for those of you staying, you will have an opportunity to train with a few of last year’s graduates and our inactive duty commanding officer.” Charlie steps forward, and Sodie, Stan, and Luke move beside him.
This is the same team that searched for me a year and a half ago. Chris and Elias must have brought them back to look for Shadow. But why the introductions? Is this a cover to fool the potential rat under our nose?
“Along with our special ops group,” Chris continues, regaining my attention.
Three men step forward they’re wearing baseball caps on their head so low, I can’t see much of their faces. Murmurs of excitement flow behind me. Ean quickly brings them back to attention.
“Reggie Santos, Emily Blackguard, and Sixes Langhlan will join us for a duration while their trainers from the special ops division are here. I know there are two females in the special ops group, and I expect all of you to behave, as you do with the Princess.” Chris glances around the room, his menacing expressions a warning to the group.
“Question, sir.” Spike steps forward.
“Spike.” Chris gives Spike his full attention, eyeing him fully before bringing his attention back to his face.
“What does the special ops division do exactly?”
Chris smiles. “There’s a reason it’s called Special Operations. That information is confidential.”
